Andrew J. Turner

Biographical Sketch of Andrew J. Turner, Laclede County, Missouri>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed PublishingCompany, 1889.**********************************************************************Andrew J. Turner, ex-judge of the county and a prominent farmer ofAuglaize Township, was born in Caswell county, N. C., in 1835, and is ason of Thomas and Celia (Wear) Turner. The father was born in Halifaxcounty, Va., November 15, 1790, and was the youngest child of Martin and Elizabeth Turner. Martin was born in England and came to the United States when a child, his parents both dying on the ocean whileen route to America. He attained his majority in Virginia, and afterbecoming grown was married to a Miss Lipscomb, who was born in KingWilliams County, Va., about 1810. After their marriage they went toNorth Carolina by wagon, and reared their family of ten children inCaswell county. Thomas Turner was in his twentieth year when his parents moved to North Carolina, and while a resident of that State heenlisted in the War of 1812, serving until the close. He was one of the leading men of his county, and in 1842 came with his family, over-land, to Missouri, making Springfield their home for two years. He then located in what is now Laclede county, where he improved a largefarm and resided until the breaking out of the late war, when he wentSouth and resided in Texas four years, then returning to the farm inMissouri, where he died in 1875. His wife was born in Caswell county,N. C., in 1800, and died February 1, 1862, while a resident of Texas.Four of their eight children are now living: Hillory M., William andMeriwether (deceased), John C. (deceased), Robert D., Mildred S. (de-ceased), Andrew J. and Thomas B. The father was first married toElizabeth Fisher, by whom he had one son, Rufus A., who is residing inTexas. Mr. Turner was a member of the A. F. & A. M. Andrew J. Turnergrew to manhood in Laclede county and attended the common schools andthe high school of Lebanon. He has resided on his present farm since 1858, with the exception of six years during the late war, when hemoved his family to Texas, and there enlisted, in February, 1862, inCompany G, Winston's Battalion, being afterward transferred to theMissouri Department, in which he served during the remainder of thewar. He was at the battles of Lexington, the first siege of Corinth,Prairie Grove and Little Rock. After the cessation of hostilities hereturned with his family to Missouri (1867) and in 1874 was electedjudge of the county court for a term of two years. November 18, 1858,he married Miss Laura L. Payton, who was born in Maury county, Tenn.,March 13, 1840, and is a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Payton, whocame to Laclede county, Mo., in 1855, and engaged in farming. The father died in 1857, but the mother is still living, and makes her homewith Mr. Turner. Mrs. Payton was born in Maury county, Tenn., Septem-ber 29, 1807, and after the death of Mr. Payton was married to JohnRagland, a native of Virginia, who died in 1876. Of the five childrenborn to her first union three grew to maturity, but all are now deceased, with the exception of Mrs. Turner. To Mr. and Mrs. Turnernine children have been born: Ella, wife of Samuel R. Fulbright; ThomasA., Robert B., Bettie F., Maude A., Henry P., Elmo M., Edna E. and Myrtle O. Mrs. Turner is a member of the Christian Church, and he is amember of the A. F. & A. M., of the Blue Lodge and the AgriculturalWheel. He is a stanch Democrat in politics.